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Why do I have yellow teeth?

There are many reasons why someone could have yellow teeth; some people just have naturally whiter teeth, some more yellow, some more grey. In addition to your genetics, tooth discolouration can be caused by:

Cavities- eating sugary foods and poor hygiene may cause holes in your teeth or changes in the colour of the tooth as demineralisation occurs. Dental caries can present as a slight change in colour or an obvious dark area.

Drinking/eating acidic foods and beverages- causing the whiter enamel to be lost

Tobacco (whether smoking, chewing, or dipping)

Certain diseases and medications during development could affect the appearance of the teeth

Tetracycline staining- as above, but because it is so common especially in Asian countries we’ve given it its own bullet point.

Amalgam restorations- If the enamel supporting the filling is thin, you can get shine through that makes the tooth appear darker.

Age (over time, enamel wears away, allowing the natural yellow colour of dentine to show through)

Simply having yellow teeth is mostly a cosmetic issue unless associated with wear. Different causes of tooth discolouration will require different treatments so it’s really important to establish the cause. As a dentist in Maroubra, we can do this for you and explain what has been going on with your teeth.

What happens when I go to the dentist?

Your Maroubra dentist will first conduct an oral examination to assess your dental health. If they see dental conditions such as decay or signs of gum disease, your dentist should treat those first as a general rule before whitening your teeth. They will ask you lots of questions and carefully check your teeth for signs of problems.

What dental treatments can whiten my teeth?

Depending on your preference and what your dentist deems most suitable for you, your dentist can whiten your teeth through the following treatments:

Professional cleaning

In office teeth whitening

At home teeth whitening

Composite Bondings

Porcelain Veneers

Dental Crowns

What home treatments can I do to whiten my teeth?

Although not as concentrated and as effective as professional dentist whitening products, over-the-counter (OTC) products may provide some benefit when you are whitening your teeth. They aren’t so much alternatives to teeth whitening, generally just a weaker, less effective option with no professional guidance. There are many products that can be easily bought from your local drugstore, you may have the ingredients for some home remedies in your kitchen already.

Some over-the-counter whitening products are:

Whitening strips- Crest strips are popular in the US but only available through ebay here

Whitening trays

Whitening toothpastes

Paint-on liquids

Whitening chewing gums

Whitening rinses

Whitening gels

There are other home remedies I have heard of, but have never tried. To be honest, I cannot endorse them in anyway- but in case you are curious- I will put them here…

They include:

Remedy 1: Rubbing the inside of either a banana or orange peel on your teeth once or twice a day for around two minutes.

Remedy 2: Using a mashed strawberry with a bit of baking soda as toothpaste. After applying the strawberry-soda paste, brush your teeth with regular toothpaste to wash out the acids found naturally in strawberries.

Remedy 3: Applying olive oil to your teeth for two to three minutes before regularly brushing your teeth.

Remedy 4: Using drops of a few fresh lemon juice with a small amount of baking soda as toothpaste. Then, brush your teeth with regular toothpaste to wash out the acids found in lemons.

Remedy 5: Using a salt as a tooth powder instead of your regular toothpaste.

Remedy 6: Drying the leaves of holy basil under the sun then grinding them until it becomes powdery. Then, mix it to your toothpaste when brushing.

CAUTION- putting anything acidic on your teeth and then brushing can wear away enamel- so use very sparingly. It is not something to be done regularly or acid erosion will result!

Also, adding some fruits and veggies that have natural whiteners to your diet will help whiten your teeth. Check the list below to learn which fruits these are:

Strawberries

Apples

Raisins

Cucumbers

Broccoli

Celery

Carrots

What aftercare steps should I do to take care of my whitened teeth?

A routine checkup with your dentist and practicing good dental hygiene by flossing and brushing every day will definitely help keep your ‘pearly whites’ gleaming. This combined with the advice below will make quite a difference. If you have whitened your teeth, topping up with a few sessions of your home whitening kit every few months will also make a big difference.How can I prevent getting yellow teeth?

Aside from practicing good oral hygiene, these steps can help prevent you from getting yellow teeth: